Clinking glasses with Trinity alumni

Sir, – I refer to your article regarding the leader of the Opposition Mary Lou McDonald “clinking champagne glasses with the Trinity alumni” (”News, June 16th).

I just wanted to manage expectations for anyone planning to attend the Trinity College Dublin Alumni dinner in Sydney next month. While we will endeavour to serve a nice pinot gris and a shiraz, maybe from Tasmania, unfortunately the budget won’t stretch to cover champagne.

As a Trinity graduate himself, we would be delighted to invite the Tánaiste, Mr Varadkar, to speak at our next event in Sydney.

And of course, we will try and accommodate his beverage preferences insofar as the budget will allow – maybe a nice sparkling chardonnay if he is okay with that. – Yours, etc,